rotoworld wrote:Ryan Freel isn't yet 100 percent following October knee surgery, though he's optimistic he'll be ready for the start of the season.''I just started running,'' he said. ''But I'm ready to start going at it.'' Freel probably won't receive as many at-bats as he did last year, but he should steal enough bases to have significant value in NL-only leagues. He'll bat leadoff when he's in the lineup. Feb. 16 - 2:33 pm et

Nat, why would the Reds pay millions to Joe Randa just to have him sit on the bench? Freel's specialty positions are 3B and any outfield position, and he can also play 2B in a pinch. Randa covers 3B, and the outfield has Griffey, Dunn, Kearns, and Wily Mo Pena, so right now there's nowhere for Freel to play. Freel will almost certainly come out of spring training on the 25-man roster, but destined for the bench initially. If the Reds are true to form the last few years, a starter or perhaps a few starters will succumb to injury, and a place will open up for Freel to start. I'd say there's about a 75% chance of that happening, but it's not a lock.

Police arrested Freel on Monday night on charges of drunken driving, careless driving and having an open container in a motor vehicle. He was released about 3 a.m. Tuesday from the Campbell County jail in Newport, Kentucky after a $500 bond was posted for him, jail authorities said. Freel was scheduled for an arraignment Wednesday morning in the Campbell County District Court in Newport.